By DON DUBUC

Another of those 50 S.T.A.R. tagged redfish has been caught. But this story does not have a happy ending. On back to back weekends two lucky Louisiana anglers caught redfish sporting infamous, bright-red, plastic tags. Both will claim $25,000 boats, motors and trailers as rewards for purchasing Statewide Tournament & Anglers Rodeo entry tickets before their catches.

But Hank Mathison, the 29-year-old insurance adjuster from Ridgeland, Miss., caught a 17-inch S.T.A.R.-tagged redfish in Barataria Bay but alas, he had no ticket.

“The tag was pretty obvious,” he said. “I pulled the fish out of the water, saw the tag and asked the guide what it was. I had no knowledge of the tournament. Steve (Francois) heard about it but didn’t know many details, so we called the marina. They said we couldn’t enter a fish unless we had bought a ticket before catching it.”

What Mathison missed out on is the offer for the first 10 people registered in the S.T.A.R. who catch a tagged redfish will each win a 21-foot Fishmaster boat powered by a 150 horsepower Mercury outboard on a Magic tilt trailer valued at $25,000.

In all, the S.T.A.R. offers contestants 24 water-ready boat packages worth more than $500,000 as prizes in 11 fish categories. A 2002 Chevy Suburban will be awarded in a random drawing from all entries.

The tournament ends on Labor Day, Sept. 2. To see a list of all ticket outlets, weigh stations, tournament rules and current standings, visit the CCA Web site at www.ccalouisiana.com.

Doves, guides & flys

The LDWF Commission will consider a proposal that will affect dove hunting this season at its July meeting.

The plan would divide the state into North and South Zones each with different season length and bag limits. The North Zone would have a 60-day season with a daily bag limit of 15 birds per hunter. The South Zone would have a 70-day season with a 12-bird limit.

The boundary for the proposed zones will be Interstates 10 & 12. Public comment will be taken at the next meeting or in writing to LDWF Wildlife Division, PO Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898.

Members of the Northshore Chapter of the Louisiana Coastal Conservation Association will hear a pair of guides talk about fishing the Venice area on Tuesday. Captains Brandon Carter of Reel Shot guide Service and Gary Bonano of Strike Zone Charters are the featured speakers at the meeting that begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Mandeville Community Center on East Causeway Approach. Plans for the upcoming July 30 membership banquet at the Castine Center will be discussed.

For membership or ticket info call 985-624-9971.

The Pontchartrain Fly Fishers have several upcoming events on its agenda. A fly tying class is set for 7 p.m. at the Glass Menagerie in Mandeville on Thursday.

The next general meeting will be July 10. Reservations for rooms for an overnight saltwater fishing trip in conjunction with the Redstick Fly Fishers of Baton Rouge are being taken and casting lessons are available by calling 504-834-3474.

DON DUBUC is the outdoors reporter for L’Observateur.